An Urgent Need: Coordinating Reconstruction and Stabilization in Contingency Operations

On February 22, 2010, the federal Commission on Wartime
Contracting conducted a hearing entitled, “An Urgent Need: Coordinating Reconstruction and Stabilization in Contingency Operations.” The hearing examined reconstruction and stabilization roles and responsibilities; planning and cooperation across U.S. government agencies, coalition partners, non-governmental organizations, and host-nation communities; and consideration of sustainability by host governments when assessing potential projects.

Stuart Bowen, the government’s Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction; Maj. Gen. Arnold Fields, USMC (retired), Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction; Robert Perito, Senior Program Officer, Centers of Innovation and Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations, U.S. Institute of Peace; Mark Schneider, Senior Vice President, International Crisis Group (ICG), formerly Peace Corps director and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State; and Seth Jones, political scientist, RAND Corporation, and adjunct professor of security studies, Georgetown University, all testified.

The hearing started at 9:30 am in 216 Hart Senate Office Building, and adjourned at 2:30 pm.